Mounting bracket for inera-red lamps



Dec. 26, 1961 R. L. STEINBACH MOUNTING BRACKET FOR INFRA-RED LAMPS FiledJune 24, 1958 v/ wfi Z fl G I- Z j 5 m w m F 2 F 4 2 w rates l atent3,014,680 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 3,014,680 MGUNTZNG BRACKET FORINFRA-RED LAMPS Richard L. Steinbach, 1771 E. Mendocino St,

Altadena, Calif. Filed June 24, 1958, Ser. No. 744,995 12 Qantas. (Cl.248-il) The present invention relates to support bracket means for usein positioning tube type lamps in proper relationship to electriccurrent sources and to reflector plates adapted to direct radiationsemanating from the lamps. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to brackets for supporting reflectors and heat producinginfra-red radiating lamps as used in infra-red drying ovens.

It has been a common expedient in the prior art to support tube typelamps in appropriate relationship with reflector means by utilizingclips or brackets adjacent the ends of such tubes. it has also been thepractice to utilize the same bracket means to support the reflectors insuch arrangements. The brackets used for such purposes have been ofrelatively complex construction, including a plurality of separatelyfabricated pieces which had to be Welded or otherwise attached to oneanother. Gne adjunct of such constructions, involving the means forsupporting the lamp tube, required either elastic clip means ormechanically hinged and relatively movable portions which could bespread or opened to hold the lamp tube, and such expedients furthercontributed to the costliness and complexity of the resulting bracketconstruction.

The present invention provides a simplified bracket formed of a singlepiece of material appropriately shaped and bent to provide novelflexible integral means to support the lamp tube, as well as means tosupport the reflector plates, all in appropriate relationship to thesource of the use of hinged arrangements which are excessively exepensive and prone to breakage.

The present invention makes use of a single piece of material comprisinga planar blank which may be deformed into the shape of the unitarybracket means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved supportbracket fixture for use with tube type lamp means.

A further object of the present invent on is to provide an improvedsupport bracket constructed of a single piece of material whereby toeffect significant economies in production costs over prior knowndevices of this type.

Still another object of this invention is to provide support bracketmeans, including integral flexible tube engaging fingers, adapted toreliably engage and hold the ends of tubular lamps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved bracketformed of a single piece of material and which provides means forsupporting a tubular lamp as well as means for supporting reflectorplates for directing radiations emanating from the lamp.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide-animproved support bracket for use in infra-red drying ovens, said supportbracket being formed of a single piece of material and being adapted tobe supported in relation to'electric circuit means and to support a.tubular type infra-red lamp and reflector means in proper relationshipto one another to reflect the infra-red radiations of the lamp in adesired direction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel blank shapeof sheet material adapted to be bent into a unitary support bracket ofthe class described.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereor" andwherein:

FEGURE l is a perspective view of a tube type lamp installationaccording to the present invention, with a portion of one reflectorelement broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through one of thesupport brackets of FIGURE 1 at the fitting which connects to a junctionbox, showing the tube supporting fingers but with the lamp tube removed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the novel bracket means of the presentinvention with the lamp tube supporting fingers bent into their open andtube receiving position; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the bracket of FZ'GURE 3may be formed.

it is a feature of the present invention that the integral supportbracket may be formed from an easily fabricated fiat blank therebyeliminating the necessity of joining separately fabricated pieces.Attention is directed first to FIGURE 4 showing a plan view of a flatblank stamped from relatively ductile material into the configurationshown from which it may be formed into the unitary support bracketconstruction of the present invention. The blank comprises'a centralbase portion 10 having outwardly or longitudinally extending wingportions 12 and a downwardly or laterally extended tab portion .14. Thetab 14 is provided with a hole 16 of appropriate size to accommodate adesired size of tube type lamp means and is slit at 2%). The blank isalso formed with a pair of apertures 22 in central base portion ll) andwith weakened bend lines 26 at the line of juncture of the 'UQSSPOIUOB10 with the L-shaped wing portions 12, 12 and tab 14. Additionalweakened bend lines 28 extend across the tabs 12 as shown by dottedlines in FIGURE 4. Openims 24 are provided in the wing portions 12 toserve as a means for securemcnt of reflector plate means thereto as willbe later described.

The blank construction described is adapted to be bent into the formshown in FIGURE 3 to provide the support bracket of the presentinvention. Thus, the wing portions 12 and the tube support portion 14 ofthe blank are bent generally perpendicular to the base portion it alongthe bend lines 26, as shown in FIGURE 3. The wing portions 12 arefurther bent angularly outwardly along the bend lines 23 to formangularly related supporting surfaces for attachment of reflector means.While portions 12 may be of constant width, preferably they are formedwith widened extremities as at 30 to provide extended support for thereflector means.

The tab portion 14 forms a lamp tube supporting means comprisingdeformable fingers 32 upon opposite sides of the hole 16 and the slit'20. Fingers 32 are readily deformable from the closed. position shownin FIG- URES l, 2 and 4, to the open position shown in FIG- PiGURE 2 bya fitting or connector generally designated by the reference numeral 36.Fitting 36 includes a hollow-bodied externally threaded bushing 38adapted to be inserted through the bracket aperture 22 and having aflanged end or head 40. Fitting 36 includes a snap ring -42 secured tothe outer face of the bracket base by a nut 44 threaded on stud Snapring 42 includes a plurality of circumterentially arranged fingers whichare adapted to extend through an adjacent opening and make .fuic-tionalsealing engagement therewith. This arrange- :ment enables the supportbracket element to be snapped into supporting engagement with a junctionbox 34 by the insertion of the snap ring 42. into one of the knock-outopenings 45 of the junction box.

The bracket means described is adapted for use with various types oftube lamps, whether of the so-called inert gas fluorescent type, or anincandescent heat or light lamp in tube form. In the specific exampleherein described the invention is shown applied to a tube lamp adaptedto radiate inira-red heat rays being of the type used in infrared dryin"ovens, and attention is directed to FIGURE 1 in which there isillustrated a typical lamp construction used in infra-red drying ovensincorporating the novel support bracket means of the present invention.Such constructions include spaced junction boxes 34, connected by aconduit as and adapted to be suitably supported in or relative to thedrying oven and house electrical Wiring connected to an external sourceof electrical energy. Lead Wires 48 pass through hollow stud elementsand have terminal socket means 50 engaged with the contact ends of tubelamp 18. Reflector plates 52 are secured to the Wing portions 12 at thewidened end portions 343 by means of rivets or bolts 53 extended throughthe adjacent opening 24.

As may be seen from a comparison of FIGURES 2 and 3, the fingers 32 ofthe support bracket are deformable from the open position of FIGURE 3,suitable for the insertion of the lamp tube 13 into the aperture 15, tothe closed position shown in FIGURES l and 2, in which they serve tosupport and retain the lamp tube in position. With the lamp tube inplace the connector sockets 50 are connected to the ends of the lamptube to complete the assembly of FIGURE 1. Upon encrgization of the lamptube 18 the radiations emanating therefrom are reflected by thereflectors 52.

Brackets of the type disclosed are usually used together in pairs butare suitable for use singly or in multiples in alignment. The exactmaterial of which the bracket is formed is not of the essence so long asit has suificient strength and rigidity to perform the intendedsupporting function and yet is sufiicicntly ductile and deformable tomake the fingers 32 to be deflected a large number of times withoutfailure. The blank from which the bracket is formed can readily bestamped from sheet or strip material and the shaping of the bracket toits final form can also be a stamping operation.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure isdirected to a preferred embodiment of the invention and thatmodifications and alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Support bracket for tube type lamps, said bracket being formed of asingle piece of ductile material and comprising a base portion, a tubesupporting portion, and a reflector plate supporting portion, said tubesupporting portion and said reflector plate supporting portion beingangularly arranged relative to each other and to said base portion andbeing integral extensions of said base portion.

2. Support bracket means for tube type lamps, said bracket means beingformed of a single piece of ductile material and comprising a baseportion, a tube supporting portion formed of an extension of the baseportion and disposed laterally thereof, and a reflector plate supportingtab formed of an extension of the base portion in a directionperpendicular to the extension forming said tube supporting portion andbeing disposed angularly to the plane of the base portion.

3. Support bracket means for tube type lamps, said bracket means beingformed of a single piece of ductile material and comprising a baseportion, a tube supporting portion formed of an extension of the baseportion and disposed perpendicularly thereto, said tube supportingportion being fiat and plate-form and having an aperture therethrough toaccommodate the cross-section of a tube type lamp, and a slit in saidtube supporting portion extending from the outer edge thereof to saidaperture to provide at least one flexible finger movable out of theplane of said aperture to allow insertion of said lamp and movable backinto the plane of said aperture to support said lamp in assembledrelation with the bracket.

Support bracket means for tube type lamps, said bracket means beingformed of a single piece of ductile material and comprising a baseportion, a tube supporting portion formed of an extension of the baseportion and disposed perpendicularly thereto, said tube supportingportion comprising a fiat plate having an aperture therein and a slitextending radially from said aperture to the edge of the plate mostremote from the base portion to provide a pair of flexible fingers, saidfingers being deformable from their normal plane to an open position topermit the insertion of a tube into said aperture and then back intotheir normal plane to a tubesupporting position.

5. Support bracket means for tube type lamps, said bracket means beingformed of a single piece of ductile material and comprising a baseportion, a tube supporting portion formed of extension of the baseportion and disposed perpendicularly thereto, and a pair of refiectorplate supporting wings formed of extensions of the base portion andextended in a direction perpendicular to said tube supporting portion,and also having end portions disposed angularly to the plane of the baseportion, said tube supporting portion having an aperture therein and aslit extending radially from said aperture to the edge of said portionmost remote from the base portion to provide flexible fingers definingthe aperture, said fingers being deformable from the plane of theaperture in said position to an open position to enable a tube to beinserted into said aperture and then back into the plane of the apertureto a tube supporting position.

6. A unitary support bracket for tube type lamps, said bracket beingformed of a single blank of ductile material and comprising a baseportion having an aperture adapted to cooperate with a hollow fittingfor attachment to a fixed support and to permit passage of electricallead Wires, :1 pair of opposed longitudinal Wing portions formed ofextensions of said base portion and having end portions angularlydisposed to said base portion to provide support means for the ends of areflector plate, and a lamp tube supporting portion formed of anextension of the base portion and disposed in a direction perpendicularto said base portion, said tube supporting portion having an aperturetherein adapted to support a tube type lamp adjacent an end thereof inposition for the end cap of said lamp to be engaged by said electricallead wires.

7. in tube type lamp constructions wherein a plurality of bracket meansare attached to spaced junction boxes for support and for passage ofelectrical lead wires therethrough, said bracket means including meansfor supporting tube type lamp means adjacent the ends thereof inposition to be engaged by said lead wires, said brackets including Wingmeans for supporting reflector plates laterally to either side of a lampmounted in said bracke means and in position to reflect radiations fromsaid tube type lamps; the improvement consisting of said bracket meansbeing formed of a single piece of ductile material and comprising a baseportion, a tube supporting portion and reflector plate supportingportions, said tube supporting portion and said reflector platesupporting portions being integral extensions of the material of saidbase portion.

8. A supporting assembly for tube type lamps and for reflector platesfor such lamps, said assembly comprising a support bracket and a fittingfor detachably connecting said bracket to an apertured supportingstructure, said support bracket being formed of a single plate ofductile material and comprising an apertured base, a lamp supportingmember, and reflector plate supporting tabs, said lamp supporting memberand said reflector plate supporting tabs being integral extensions ofthe material of said base and being angularly disposed relative to thelower side of said base, said fitting comprising a hollow threaded studsuitable as a wiring conduit extending upwardly through the aperture insaid base, said stud having an enlarged flange at the end thereofengaging the lower surface of said base to provide a clamping bearingaround the edge of the said aperture, an annular snap ring closelyfitting said stud and having a flat portion bearing against the uppersurface of said base, said flat portion having bowed spring fingersaround its periphery extending upwardly from the plane of the flatportion, and a nut threaded on said stud within the confines of saidspring fingers and bearing against the flat portion of said snap ring toclamp the said flat portion to the upper surface of said base, wherebysaid support bracket may be detachably attached to a supportingstructure having an appropriate opening therein by insertion of saidsnap ring into said opening so that the bowed spring fingers of the snapring resiliently engage the edges of the surfaces defining the saidopening.

9. A lamp bracket for detachably supporting a tubular lamp in a suitableoperating environment during the normal service life of the lamp, saidlamp bracket comprising a sheet metal member of generally E-shape havinga base provided with means for securing the same to a support therefor,the other leg of said E-shaped bracket having a large bore openingtherethrough of a size readily accornmodating the lamp to be supportedtherein, said other leg having a slit extending into said opening fromthe end of said leg and cooperating with said opening to divide theadjacent portions of said legto either side of said opening into wings,said wings normally lying in a common plane with said opening to lock alamp in place in said opening but being deflectable away from oneanother to provide room for the insertion and removal therethrough of alamp.

10. A tubular lamp supporting fixture comprising a lamp bracket formedfrom a single piece of sheet metal, said bracket having a fiat base, anupright tab formed with a large diameter opening to receive a lamp bodytherethrough, and a pair of wings lying in diverging planes at rightangles to the plane of said upright tab, said wings being adapted tosupport deflectors positioned laterally to either side of a lampsupported in said tab.

11. A lamp fixture as defined in claim 10 characterized in that the baseof said one-piece bracket has a large opening therethrough, a bushingextending through said opening, a snap-ring keeper assembled over theouter end of said bushing on the end thereof remote from said uprighttab, means holding said snap ring and bushing assembled to said bracket,and said snap ring having spring keeper means adapted to be seated andresiliently retained in an outlet opening of a junction box and tofrictionally interlock with the edges thereof to hold said bracketdetachably assembled to said junction box.

12. A support bracket for a tubular element formed of a single piece ofdeformable sheet material and comprising a base portion and a singleupright tab integral with one edge of said base portion, said singleupright tab having a pair of co-planar Wings cooperating to form asingle aperture co-planar therewith, characterized in that one of saidwings is adapted to be deflected from said co-planar relationship topermit a tubular element to be positioned in said aperture andthereafter returned to said co-planar relationship to lock said elementassembled to said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,125,064 Connell Jan. 19, 1915 1,366,321 Kahn Jan. 18, 1921 1,644,899Southgate Oct. 11, 1927 1,903,127 ORourke Mar. 28, 1933 2,406,415Tinnerman Aug. 27, 1946 2,446,736 Biller Aug. 10, 1948 2,450,723 ElradOct. 5, 1948 2,461,145 Craver Feb. 8, 1949 2,512,188 Wait June 20, 19502,592,315 Mosley Apr. 8, 1952 2,767,946 Weeks Oct. 23, 1956 2,836,214Rapata May 27, 1958

